MILLIONS carrying a middle age spread could help burn it off by taking cod liver oil or Omega 3 fish oil capsules with their meals, a new study has found.

Scientists now believe that such a simple intervention could help all those battling the bulge as they move into their 40s, 50s and 60s.

A team of Japanese academics found -that such fish oil activate receptors in the gut, firing the sympathetic nervous system, and transforming "bad" white fat cells into "good" beige cells which in turn metabolise fat.

Therefore taking the oils aids our metabolism in middle age, helping us shed the pounds as we did when we were younger.

The findings may help explain why the Japanese and Mediterranean diets rich in fish helps people live leaner and longer lives.

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The Mediterranean diet has always been associated with good health

We knew from previous research that fish oil has tremendous health benefits

Professor Teruo Kawada, who led the study at Kyoto University, said: "We knew from previous research that fish oil has tremendous health benefits, including the prevention of fat accumulation.

"We tested whether fish oil and an increase in beige cells could be related. People have long said that food from Japan and the Mediterranean contribute to longevity, but why these cuisines are beneficial was up for debate.

"Now we have better insight into why that may be."

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It's estimated that by 2034 that 70% of all adults will be obese

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The mice gained less weight when taking the oil

The team of scientists found that mice fed the oil with fatty meals gained five to 10 per cent less weight and 15 to 25 per cent less fat compared to those not given the oil supplement.

The new study, published in the journal Scientific Reports, found that not all fat tissues actually store fat.